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8h ago

Delhi Forms High-Level Panel to Audit Two Decades of PWD, I&FC Arbitration Awards

The move aims to quantify losses from past disputes to tighten oversight.

Chief minister Rekha Gupta (above) said the review seeks to measure the extent of losses from legal disputes and to ensure transparency regarding the use of public funds over the past two decades. (HT Photo)

Overview

  • The committee is chaired by the additional chief secretary with the Comptroller and Auditor General as member and the additional director general as member secretary, supported by finance units from PWD and I&FC and audit teams from the Directorate of Audit.
  • It will compile year-wise and award-wise records of cases of ₹1 crore and above, assess payments and losses, and is awaiting departmental data submissions before starting detailed reviews.
  • The Directorate of Audit will deploy further audit teams if the case volume or complexity warrants, based on the committee’s recommendations.
  • Chief minister Rekha Gupta has asked the Anti-Corruption Branch to investigate the Barapullah Phase-III arbitration, where a project due in October 2017 led to a ₹120 crore award that the Delhi High Court increased to ₹175 crore in May 2023, a sum paid under the previous government.
  • Gupta said future PWD contracts will exclude arbitration clauses, with disputes to be resolved in court to curb financial exposure from stalled projects and awards.